Template revised September 22, 2016.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
9a
BRIEFING ITEM
Date of Meeting
April 24, 2018
DATE: April 2, 2018
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Elizabeth Leavitt, Senior Director, Environment and Sustainability Center of Expertise
Jeremy Webb, Aviation Environmental Program Manager
Jane Dewell, Maritime Stormwater Program Manager
Tom Fagerstrom, Airport Noise Programs Coordinator
SUBJECT: Environmental Excellence and Fly Quiet Awards
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In honor of Earth Day (4/22/2018), Port staff will recognize 2017 winners of the Port of Seattle
Environmental Excellence Awards Program (Awards Program) for both the aviation and
maritime divisions. The Awards Program annually recognizes customers, tenants, non-profits
and partners of all sizes for outstanding environmental leadership, and encourages continuous
improvement by celebrating their accomplishments and acknowledging the critical role they
play in assisting the Port in meeting its environmental goals.
Port staff will also recognize winners of the Port’s Fly Quiet Awards for airline noise reduction
efforts at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA). The annual Fly Quiet Awards were
developed by Port staff and a citizen advisory committee in 2005 as a way to increase airline
and pilot awareness of the impact of aircraft noise on local communities. Fly Quiet was
included as a continuing noise program measure in the most recent Part 150 Noise Study
update completed in 2014.
AWARD CHANGES
This was the first year the maritime Awards Program was open to all maritime customers,
tenants and partners, which better aligned aviation and maritime Awards Programs. In recent
past, the maritime awards have focused on the cruise industry. In addition, “Green Gateway”
was omitted from the Awards Program title.
The Energy and Sustainability Committee, chaired by Commissioners Felleman and Calkins, will
update the Port’s environmental awards for 2019 with an eye towards creating a
comprehensive award that engages all of the Port’s stakeholders and elevates the community’s
sense of the Port’s environmental innovation.
2017 AWARD WINNERS
COMMISSION AGENDA Briefing Item No. ____ Page 2 of 6
Meeting Date: April 24, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
The Maritime Division received seven nominations and selected four winners. The Aviation
Division received eleven nominations and selected three winners. Award winners and key
accomplishments are described by division and award category below, and include award type
distinctions (e.g. Honorable Mention and Honor Roll).
MARITIME ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Environmental Performance
Vigor
This award recognizes Vigor’s outstanding environmental accomplishments including:
Installed energy efficient LED fixtures at Harbor Island facility with motion sensors,
reducing the facility’s energy consumption by 823,000 kWh annually;
Conducted in-depth analysis of waste stream and eliminated garbage waste, resulting
in a 91% recycling rate; and
Hosted Earth Day Clean Up Event in cooperation with the City of Seattle at Harbor
Island facility with 200+ employees and adopted monthly “Extreme Clean” campaign.
Environmental Performance
Castan Inc. Trucking CompanySmall Business
This award recognizes Castan’s proactive decision to eliminate diesel engines from their fleet
including:
Converted entire truck fleet of 1996 diesel engines to 2014 liquefied natural gas
engines resulting in significant health and environmental benefits; and
Reduced harmful Nitrogen Oxide by 85%, Particulate Matter by 99.8%, and 72 tons of
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually.
Environmental Performance - Honorable Mention
Maxum Petroleumfor various measures reducing environmental risk and improving habitat.
Seaview Boatyard for various measures improving air and water quality.
Education and Outreach
Maxum Petroleum
This award recognizes Maxum’s extensive collaboration with community and environmental
organizations including:
Hosted a two-day Advanced Incident Command System Training and Emergency Drill
with spill response contractors, neighboring facilities, state and federal agencies; and
COMMISSION AGENDA Briefing Item No. ____ Page 3 of 6
Meeting Date: April 24, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
Organized two Advance Stormwater Management Workshops with the Environmental
Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS).
Innovation
Seaview Boatyard Small Business
This award recognizes Seaview’s leadership in innovative stormwater treatment including:
Led Washington boat yards as the first boat yard to install advanced stormwater
reclamation using the StormwateRx Aquip System, which helped to accelerate the
adoption of similar stormwater treatment systems industry-wide; and
Improved water quality via the advanced stormwater reclamation system.
AVIATION ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Environmental Performance
United Airlines
This award recognizes United Airlines for outstanding environmental accomplishments at STIA
and system-wide. United:
Added twenty-two electric Ground Support Equipment at STIA saving 20,000 gallons in
fuel and cutting GHG emissions by 217 metric tons annually;
Converted their air cargo facility lighting to energy-efficient LEDs saving 124,000 kWh
(71%) and $14,000 annually;
Implemented other sustainability initiatives including:
o Changed in-flight operations and materials saving 1.6 million gallons in fuel and
cutting GHG emissions by 20,500 metric tons annually;
o Supported alternative aviation jet fuel development including being the first
U.S. carrier to fly with commercial-scale volumes of sustainable alternative jet
fuel (2016) and continuing to fly using sustainable aviation fuel today out of
LAX;
o Invested $30 million in U.S.-based alternative aviation fuels developer; and
o Donated unused products and recycled in-flight waste through United’s Eco-
Skies program.
Environmental Performance Honor Roll
HMSHost
This award recognizes HMSHost for a diverse range of sustainability initiatives related to their
STIA restaurant operations. Honor Roll distinction is based on the significance, diversity and
scale of HMSHost’s accomplishments combined with past awards in 2016, 2015, and 2014.
HMSHost:
COMMISSION AGENDA Briefing Item No. ____ Page 4 of 6
Meeting Date: April 24, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
Participated in Seattle’s Strawless September campaign to reduce plastic pollution and
permanently switched to on-request only environmentally preferable straws;
Donated 16,574 meals (20,718 lbs.), $20,000 cash, and 40 backpacks to the Des
Moines Area Food Bank;
Reduced STIA restaurant waste and conserved resources including:
o Recycling 68 tons of glass and cardboard, and 7,000 pallets from Airport
warehouse;
o Using environmentally-preferable durable (washable) food service ware;
o Donating or recycling nearly all used restaurant equipment and furniture
during four restaurant closures in 2017;
o Converting to energy-efficient LED lighting Energy-Star rated appliances; and
o Conserving water by offering it on-request only to sit-down restaurant
customers.
Innovation Small Business
The Common Acre
This award recognizes The Common Acre for its innovative, ecologically-focused land
conservation project called “Flight Path”, which highlights effective public-private partnership
and community outreach. The Common Acre:
Partnered with Port staff to convert three acres of neglected scrub land at the former
Tyee Golf Course into managed pollinator habitat;
Bred disease-resistant honeybees including 70 queen bees to enhance site and
surrounding area pollination and improve ecosystem health;
Developed a custom native plant seed mix using select plant species that support
healthy pollinator populations and improve aviation safety by discouraging bird
flocking;
Commissioned and installed a pollinator and transportation-themed art exhibit in the
Airport terminal between 2014 and 2015 that featured 26 regional artists and reached
over two million viewers; and
Harvested and sold honey from STIA beehives to help cover operational costs.
FLY QUIET AWARDS
Airlines are judged using 3 award criteria: the sound levels of their operations (utilizing 4 of the
Port’s noise monitors), success at flying within the noise abatement flight procedures, and
adhering to the airport’s ground maintenance engine run-up regulations.
COMMISSION AGENDA Briefing Item No. ____ Page 5 of 6
Meeting Date: April 24, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
Fly Quiet Bravo Award
Southwest Airlines
This award goes to the quietest jet airline among the five busiest airlines operationally at STIA
for:
Noise levels were consistently lower than competitors; and
Flew the noise abatement procedures at a high rate of success.
Fly Quiet Regional Award
SkyWest Airlines
This award is presented to the quietest regional jet airline at STIA for:
Reached low levels of noise from their operations; and
Had good success at flight procedures.
Fly Quiet Award
Spirit Airlines
This award is for the quietest jet airline at STIA with at least 1,000 annual operations. This
year’s winner displayed:
Were outstandingly and consistently flying STIA’s flight procedures correctly; and
Noise levels were significantly lower than their competitors in this large group.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
Airport staff created the Environmental Excellence Awards Program in 2010. One or more
awards may be given each year, depending on the quality and quantity of nominations
received. The Maritime Division has offered the “Green Gateway” awards since 2010 focusing
on environmental leadership within the cruise industry.
In order to better align the two award programs, the Maritime and Aviation Divisions began
joint participation in the Environmental Excellence Awards in 2017, offering participation to all
maritime customers, tenants and partners this year. The Airport and Maritime Divisions accept
nominations for any project, process, or action that promotes environmental leadership and
stewardship in one of the following three environmental categories:
Performance
Education and Outreach
Innovation
COMMISSION AGENDA Briefing Item No. ____ Page 6 of 6
Meeting Date: April 24, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
NEXT STEPS
Port of Seattle Commissioners and Port Leadership will have the opportunity to present
commemorative plaques to award winners and pose for pictures during an Award Luncheon
tentatively scheduled for 5/23/18 at 12:00-1:30PM in the Airport’s International Conference
Center (London Room).
Port staff will also acknowledge the 2017 Award winners through digital and print media outlets
(e.g. Port website, social media, newsletters), a public press release, and local public radio
underwriting spots (88.5 FM KNKX).
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING
(1) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
None